As the sizzling season continues with meltingly hot days and everlasting nights, thoughts turn to ice cream and its cousins — gelato and sorbet — to cool things down. Click through the gallery above for a few of our favorite ice cream shops.
Where to Get the Best Ice Cream in Sonoma County
Here are the best places to get a cool, sweet scoop right now.
Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar, Santa Rosa and Healdsburg: This ice cream shop is worth a special trip. Unique flavors include passionfruit, Thai tea, salted caramel and Dutch cookie, each inspired by local produce and the seasons. The menu changes frequently. 539 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3392; 116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-4426, thenoblefolk.com (Courtesy of Noble Folk)
Ice cream lineup at Noble Folk. (Courtesy of Noble Folk)
Nimble and Finn’s, Santa Rosa and Guerneville: Cheeky by-the-scoop flavors include Front Porch Mint Chip (the mint is from one of the owner’s front porch), Meyer Lemon, Lavender Honeycomb and Whiskey Butterscotch. Add booze and you’ve got a sassy little float. We love the Permanent Holiday with creamy Meyer lemon ice cream, Lo Fi sweet vermouth and Goat Rock rosé cider, or the summery Strawberry Letter with strawberry sorbet, vermouth, elderflower and Champagne. 16290 Main St., Guerneville, 707-666-9411; 123 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-666-9590, nimbleandfinns.com (Courtesy of Nimble and Finn's)
Sweet Scoops, Sonoma: Sonomans are crazy for this homemade ice cream spot on the square, which always has 22 flavors, from simple vanilla to lemon custard and Mexican chocolate. Or this combo: pistachio and lavender fig. Yum. Ice cream flavors rotate regularly; check the website for current flavors. 408 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-721-1187, sweetscoopsicecream.com (Courtesy of Sweet Scoops)
Trader Jim’s, Various Locations: This little retro camper does only one thing: pineapple whips, a little aloha in a cup. It is non-dairy soft-serve that you can get with or without a float of fresh pineapple juice. Check farmers markets and other locations here. 707-681-1995, traderjimsfloats.com (Courtesy of Trader Jim's)
Fosters Freeze, Santa Rosa: This old school burger and ice cream spot is all about the memories. Maybe because you’ve walked there, or your mom and dad took you in the family wagon, or it’s just Tuesday. 1400 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-576-7028; 855 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-542-3212, fostersfreeze.com (Courtesy photo)
Handline restaurant in Sebastopol was built on the site of an old Foster's Freeze and they continue to keep soft serve ice cream on the menu. 935 Gravenstein Ave. South, Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Santa Rosa: The ultimate kid spot with half a dozen flavors like crème brûlée, mudslide pie, white chocolate raspberry and Dole Whip pineapple sorbet. 2188 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-9866, menchies.com (Courtesy of Menchie's)
Dave's Gourmet Ice Cream, Santa Rosa: This local artisan producer uses premium organic milk, organic cream and liquid nitrogen (!) to make their ice cream. At a cool 321° below zero, the liquid nitrogen keeps fat and water molecules small, making for a creamier ice cream. 320 W. Third St. Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-542-8333, dgicecream.com (Courtesy of Dave's Gourmet Ice Cream)
Yogurt Farms, Santa Rosa: Classic frozen yogurt with more than 50 rotating toppings. Flavor favorites include the always lovable "simply tart" and decadent dulce de leche. Vegan yogurt and ice cream flavors are also available, including dark chocolate fudge and soy cherry chocolate chip. 1224 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-303-7118, yogurtfarms.com (Courtesy of Yogurt Farms)
Screamin' Mimi’s, Sebastopol: It’s no surprise that Food & Wine magazine has named this Sebastopol ice cream spot one of the best in America. There’s always a line, there are always kids with messy chocolate grins, and there’s always a new flavor to try. When it comes to rich dark chocolate, there’s always Mimi’s Mud or Deep Dark Secret. 6902 Sebastopol. Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5902, screaminmimisicecream.com (Courtesy of Screamin' Mimi's)
An ice cream cone at Screamin' Mimi's in Sebastopol, named the best ice cream shop in Sonoma County by The Press Democrat and one of the best in the United States by Food & Wine magazine. (Courtesy of Screamin' Mimi's)
Two Dog Night Creamery, Sebastopol and Windsor: Formerly SubZero, this Sebastopol spot at the Barlow (and now in Windsor) calls itself "farm to cone," using organic local ingredients and natural flavors for soft, gelato-style ice cream. Seasonal flavors like Summer Yuzu are a treat, while classic scoops, including Bananas Foster Crunch and Coffee Heath Bar always satisfy. One of the few places you can still get a banana split! 6760 McKinley St., Suite 110, Sebastopol, 707-823-9376; 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 100, Windsor, 707-837-5965, twodognightcreamery.com (Courtesy of Two Dog Night Creamery)
Organic Concord grape flavor at Two Dog Night Creamery in Sebastopol. (Courtesy of Two Dog Night Creamery)
Petaluma Creamery, Petaluma: This historic creamery still makes house-made ice cream along with Spring Hill cheese. Most popular is the lavender ice cream, but Meyer lemon is also a contender. 711 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-762-9038, springhillcheese.com (Courtesy of Petaluma Creamery)
Angela’s Ice Cream, Petaluma: Formerly known as Lala’s Creamery, this spot looks like the soda fountains of old, with a marble-topped bar and brick walls, but in addition to the traditional confections and banana splits, it serves up unique flavors. 134 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-774-6567; 1390 N. McDowell Blvd. East, Petaluma, 707-981-6910. Now also in Healdsburg and Forestville. angelasicecream.com. (Courtesy of Lala's Creamery)
Angela’s Ice Cream: This organic ice cream shop recently opened new stores in Healdsburg (shown above, 109 Plaza St.) and at 6671 Front St. in Forestville. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democat)
Lavender ice cream at Angela's Ice Cream in Healdsburg. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)
Amy's Wicked Slush, Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Petaluma: Nestled just over the bridge on Healdsburg Avenue, the original Amy's Wicked Slush is the perfect place to go after a trip to the river. Try one of their famous slushes (flavors change daily) or a soft serve ice cream. Also at Epicenter Sports & Entertainment (3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa). 3840 Healdsburg Ave., 707-431-9253, amyswickedslush.com (Courtesy of Amy's Wicked Slush)
Cielito Coffee and Ice Cream, Sonoma: This coffee and ice cream shop in the Vailetti Plaza shopping center on Highway 12 serves a wide variety of coffee beverages, milkshakes and ice cream. 205 Nino Marco Square, Sonoma, 707-343-7330 (Robbi Pengelly / Sonoma Index Tribune)
La Michoacana, Sonoma: You can’t miss this ice cream spot’s bright pink and orange exterior. It’s best known for fruit paletas, or frozen ice pops. Try their Mangonada: blended fresh mango with ice, swirled chamoy sauce, topped with mango chunks and tamarind candy, and a tamarind stick. 18495 Highway 12, Sonoma, 707-938-1773, michoacana.com (Beth Schanker / The Press Democrat)
A Mangonada made by Teresita Fernandez at La Michoacana in Sonoma. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Fru-Ta, Santa Rosa and Petaluma: All natural flavors, both traditional and exotic. Among the more unique are rose petal, guava, cheese, membrillo, chongo zamorano and mamey. Four locations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, frutaicecream.com (Courtesy of Fru-Ta)
Frozen Art, Santa Rosa: The Alcazars have been making Michoacana-style ice creams since 2011, originally as La Real Michoacana, and they continue to expand their lineup of 40 plus flavors. It now includes merlot chocolate chip, Kahlua, Mexican caramel, hibiscus flower, rum raisin and strawberry butter. The family comes from Tocumbo, Mexico’s ice cream-making capital. 500 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-331-2899, frozenarticecream.com (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Squatch's Ice Cream and Coffee, Rohnert Park: This nonprofit ice cream and coffee shop near Sonoma State funds a nearby student center and serves up Petaluma's-own Mariposa ice cream. 1451 Southwest Blvd., Suite 111, Rohnert Park, 707-992-0841, squatchscoffee.com (Courtesy of Squatches Ice Cream and Coffee)
Swirl Time Frozen Yogurt Bar, Rohnert Park: Another locally-owned Sonoma State fave serving up great fro-yo with a smile. 1718 E Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 707-795-7900, swirltime.com (Courtesy of Swirl Time)
Honeymoon Frozen Yogurt, Sebastopol: This local yogurt shop is a favorite because of its organic ingredients and commitment to local farms. Plus, it's open seven days a week. 7108 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-9866, honeymoonfrozenyogurt.com (Courtesy of Honeymoon Frozen Yogurt)
Baskin Robbins, Various Locations: You can’t say 31 flavors without thinking of this classic ice cream spot. Daiquiri ice is among our favorite flavors. baskinrobbins.com (Courtesy of Baskin Robbins)
Cold Stone Creamery, Various Locations: A longtime chain favorite featuring simple base flavors from vanilla and chocolate to cake batter with dozens of mix-ins to make a truly unique scoop. Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma locations. coldstonecreamery.com (Courtesy of Cold Stone Creamery)
